5th Class Science Animals Birds

     Birds

Animals, which live mostly in air and have feathers and wings are called as Birds. All birds have wings but not all birds can fly. Millions of year ago some birds went back to sea and their feathers are adapted according to water to help them in swimming.

More than 9,000 kinds of birds are present today. The size of birds varies from the largest African ostrich (taller than and man) to the smallest humming bird of 3 - 4 cm length.

Look at the parts of body of a bird in the following picture:

General Features of Birds

They have light and hollow strong bones and skull.

Birds have hard beak or bill instead of teeth or mouth.

They are not very big in size, except few.

They have wings covered with feathers, instead of hand.

Tail of bird is made up of feathers.

They have boat shaped body to fly easily in air.

Birds have strong flight muscles to move the wings up and down.

They are warm blooded.

The tail of a bird acts like the rudder of a boat to change the direction during flight.

Respiratory system welt developed to breathe at high altitudes where air is thinner.

When wings of bird move upwards called upstroke movement. When wings move downwards called down stroke movement.

There are more than 9,000 species of birds.

Look at the following table of types of birds:

        Distinct features of few birds  

            Bald Eagle and wandering albatross birds  

Bald eagle makes the biggest nest in birds                            Wandering albatross has the longest wings    

      Feeding in Birds

Birds eat nuts, fruits, grains, etc. Few birds are carnivorous and eat other animals such as, eagle, vulture, hawk and owls. Owl is found in farmland and has light face with black eyes.

Owl has very big front eyes with very good heating sense

Owl generally catches its prey in the darkness- Its prey includes other birds even the babies of eagles and hawk. Vultures are scavenger and feed on animals that are already dead.

         Migration in Birds (Adaptation to Weather)

Some birds leave their homes during winter to find food in warmer places. This is called migration. The arctic tern breeds during summer and then travels a distance of 17,000 km to the Antarctic in the south. It again goes back to the same place to breed.

Siberian crane migrate to India (Bharatput birds sanctuary and other) during winter, it goes back to Siberia in summer.

Siberian crane migrating towards india    

           Nest

Birds lay eggs in nests on the trees, roof of the houses, holes in the ground and along river banks.

Weaver birds makes complicated nest by knotting strips of leaves together

Pigeon makes nest with small twigs and branches

Hoopoe makes hole in a tree to keep its eggs safe from the predators      

     Webbed feet and water proof feathers are the features of which one of the following types of birds?

(a) Flightless birds

(b) Water birds

(c) Walking birds

(d) Birds flying at height

(e) None of these

Answer: (b)

Explanation

Water birds have webbed feet to make them swim faster. Water proof feathers are adaptation to live in water. Therefore, option (B) is correct and rest of the options is incorrect.

        Ayush is the only child of his parents, he finds himself alone at home because his parents are working. He was advised to keep bird as a pet in his house but he was confused as which birds he should purchase? Which bird you would suggest for him?

(a) Albatross

(b) Flamingo

(c) Parakeet

(d) Penguin

(e) Sunbird

Answer: (c)

Explanation

Parakeet is a small parrot and popular pet. It can mimic human speech and form sentences and it can be a good friend in his spare time.

Therefore, option (C) is correct and rest of the options is incorrect..